Booking
- This is a Borough Championships event.
- Schools may choose EITHER a Borough Championships OR a Development Competition per each sport, on the initial booking date of:
- Monday 16th September 2024 at 5pm
- They can then book onto the other event, should they wish to for another set of children, on the open booking date, a week later on:
- Monday 23rd September 2024
- If an event is full, schools will be placed on a waiting list and be notified of this.
- MSSP will contact schools should places become available in the build-up to events.
Event Eligibility
- This is a Borough Championships event.
- Schools are encouraged to select their strongest squad. School squads should be well prepared and have time to practise with the competition rules before attending this event.
- There is also a Rounders Development Competition event being delivered this year.
- Please consider the most appropriate event for your pupils to attend before registering as you may only be able to take part in one event if entrees exceed capacity.
- Schools cannot select the same pupils for the Development Competition and the Borough Championships.
- In the instance that a Championship team player is also played in a Development Competition team, the team will not be able to progress to a medal winning position.
- If this event exceeds the capacity for school entrees, priority will be given to schools who are not registered for the Development Competition.
- It is our aim to ensure all schools can access at least one of the events.
Team Eligibility
- Age: Year 5/6
- Mixed gender event.
- There is no requirement to have boys in the squad.
- A squad can contain a maximum of 5 boys and minimum 4 girls on the pitch at one time.
- Squad size: Maximum of 15, minimum of 9 players in a squad.
- We encourage schools to rotate their fielding positions throughout the competition and to allow different children to have a go at bowling (bowlers may be changed at any time when the field is not live).
- The named team for each match must remain the same for both batting and fielding.
Requirements – Teamsheets
- To help us support our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion aims, all school teams must complete and submit the attached MSSP Event Entry – EDI Teamsheet in order to register for this event. We do not require the children’s names, just initials or first names are fine. This data is vital to help us improve equity and access for all. We want all Merton students to be able to represent their schools in activities they enjoy and in an environment where they feel a sense of belonging. The data you provide us will help us to review and improve our offer as we strive to achieve this.
Kit & Equipment
- All schools must provide their own First Aid kit and first aid qualified member of staff.
- No jewellery, wrist bands/watches or hair adornments may be worn, earrings must be taped or removed, shoe laces securely tied.
- Please provide your own standard rounders bats and softy rounders balls.
- Match balls and posts are provided.
- Players of the same team should wear the same colour tops/bibs.
- It is advised that if eyewear is essential, it should be made from plastic rather than glass.
- No spiked footwear.
- School staff (that feel confident to), may be asked to help with the scoring and umpiring for wide balls and players stumped out from the view point/umpire position behind the 2nd base.
Staffing and Spectators
- Spectators will not be permitted entry to the school/private sports facilities. Primary schools must inform parents in advance when inviting students to take part.
- All staff attending the event must have enhanced DBS clearance and have been fully vetted by their primary school. DBS numbers, full name and school will be required in advance by the host school.
Sport Format
- 9 a side teams (squad size: min 9 – max 15)
- grass rounders pitch
- softie rounders balls
Rules
Positions
- We suggest the following fielding positions:
- 1 x Bowler
- 1 x Backstop
- 1 x 1st Post Fielder
- 1 x 2nd Post Fielder
- 1 x 4th Post Fielder
- 4 x Deep Fielders
- Please complete your team score sheet in advance of each match to help speed up the event. Players must remain in their batting order at all times. Players will be called up to bat.
Batters
- The aim for each Batter is to strike the ball (forward), bowled by the Bowler, then run as far as they can around the outside of the 4 posts, carrying the bat.
- Batters can use 1 or 2 hands to hold the bat.
- When batting, Batters must keep their feet within the batting square.
- Batters will have one good ball bowled to them (unless last batter on the last good ball of the innings and then the choice of 3 good balls is allowed. Batter can choose to run on any one of these three balls).
- If the Batter hits the ball and it lands in the backward area, they cannot run past 1st Post until the ball has been returned over the line into the forward area.
- If a Batter is caught out or stumped, the Batter will re-join the batting queue for their next turn. The batter will however receive a deduction of ½ rounder.
- Batters waiting at a post must keep contact with the post until the ball has left the Bowler’s hands.
- Don’t forget to touch 4th Post as you pass or you may be stumped out.
- A live Batter’s turn has finished when the Fielding team has returned the ball to the Bowler, ready for the next Batter.
- Batters must wait in the backward area, safely away from 4th post.
No ball if
- Not smooth under-arm
- Ball is above head or below knee.
- Ball bounces on way to you.
- Is wide of the batter or straight at body. Must be bowled on the side that the bat is held by the batter.
- The bowler’s foot is outside the square during the bowling action.
- You do not need to run on a no ball but you can take a no ball and run on it, but once you reach 1st post you cannot return. You score in the normal way. You cannot be caught out or stumped out at 1stpost on a ‘no ball’.
Scoring
- Each team will start on 10 rounders
- 1 rounder if the ball is hit and 4th post is reached and touched before the next ball is bowled.
- ½ a rounder if ball is hit and 2ndor 3rd post reached and touched before next ball is bowled, but if you continue this run and are stumped out before reaching 4th post, the score will be nullified.
- If the ball is hit backward, stay at 1stpost until ball crosses backward line. Then score as normal.
- If the batter misses the ball, they do not need to wait at 1stpost for the ball to cross the back line.
- ½ a rounder if 4th post reached without hitting the ball.
- ½ rounder deducted if – Caught out or Stumped out
- On the final ball of the innings:
- No ½ Rounderscan be scored for stopping at 2nd or 3rd
- The batter (and any remaining batters on the field) can be out by: the ball being grounded in the batting square or the bowler’s square; or stumped out at 4th
- Penalty ½ rounder for obstruction by a fielder.
- Penalty ½ rounder for 2 consecutive no balls to same batter.
- Penalty ½ rounder will be awarded to the fielding team if any batters obstruct the fielders.
Out when
- Caught out (no bounce first).
- Foot over front/back line of batting square before hitting or missing a good ball (if the player steps out to try and hit a no ball the umpire will not call them out).
- Running inside posts or the fielding square (unless obstructed).
- The post you are running to is stumped.
- You lose contact with post during bowler’s action when s/he has possession in the square. A warning and guidance will be given (for each team) before a player is called out.
- If you overtake a team-mate.
- If a team mate runs up to your post you will have to move on to the next post – only one batter may be at a post.
- You drop bat the bat deliberately. It is dangerous to drop or throw the bat.
- You exit out the front of the batting square – we will encourage children not to do this but will unlikely call them out for this during the early stages of the competition.
Running around the fielding square
(Please carry the bat)
- If you stop at a post you must keep contact with the post, with hand or bat. If you don’t the fielding side can stump the following post.
- You can run on to a post when the ball is back in play, even if it has been previously stumped (you don’t score if the post immediately ahead has been stumped).
- When the bowler has the ball in the bowling square you cannot move on, but if you are between posts you can carry on to the next one.
- You cannot have two batters at a post. The Umpire will ask the first to run on when the second one makes contact with the post.
- At a post you do not have to move on for every ball bowled.
- You can move on as soon as the ball leaves the bowler’s hand, including no balls.
- In the event of simultaneous contact with the post the umpire will favour the batter.
Competition Format
- Each game will be played between 2 teams, with 1 team batting first (innings) and 1 team fielding, then they swap.
- It is anticipated that games will have one innings of 18 good balls dependant on time available and weather conditions.
- Children will no longer be ‘out’ of the game for the remainder of the innings if deemed out when batting. Instead they will be deducted ½ a rounder (if caught or stumped out) and will return to their batting queue (in order) ready for their next bat. Teams will start on a score of 10 rounders to avoid a negative score where possible.
- Likely to be a round robin format at initial groups stage followed by progression to second round of group or knockout fixtures.
- Points awarded are: 3 for a win and 0 for a loss.
- The team with the higher score wins. In the event of a tie the team that takes more ‘outs’ wins.
- Group placing determined by: points accrued, overall rounders scored, least outs conceded, most outs taken, head to head result (if 2 teams), toss of a coin.
Draw Format
- First stage is round robin groups. Final group standings will be determined from results. Winners of the groups will take top seed of their group, 2nd take 2nd seed of their group, etc.
- All teams will progress to a second stage of competition according to their placement in the first round, with the format to be determined by the number of schools entered. After the first round, if necessary, it may progress into a knock out format.
Awards
- Winners: GOLD medal, certificates and Trophy.
- Runners Up: SILVER medal and certificates
- 3rd Place: BRONZE medal and certificates
- REFSPECT winners – Certificate
- Participation certificates will be presented to all participants.
Results
- Results and event report will be available on the news webpage within 24 hours of the event ending.
Winner’s Pathway
- There is currently no planned pathway from this event.
MSSP Duty of Care
MSSP have a duty to take all measures that are reasonable in the circumstances to ensure the health, safety, wellbeing and welfare of all participants and any other attendees involved in the relevant event. MSSP have tried to ensure that all reasonable steps have been taken in its duty of care being discharged, and to the requisite standard of care, MSSP have ensured the following guidance and actions have been adhered to and carried out:
- That the advice of the UK Government and public health authorities has been followed
- That the bespoke guidance and protocols issued by the relevant NGB, federation and/or umbrella organisation (if applicable) have been followed.
Safeguarding and DBS
MSSP acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and the requirements of the Partnership’s host organisation, the Harris Federation.
We recognise that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. We aim to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children and young leaders:
- have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport or physical activity at MSSP events in a safe and child centred environment
- are protected from abuse whilst participating or officiating at MSSP events
All MSSP staff at the event are fully vetted and enhanced DBS checked. It is the schools’ responsibility to ensure any staff and volunteers who attend the event comply with the host venue safeguarding and welfare policy and can provide documentation to support this on request.
Spectators will not be permitted entry to school/private sports facilities and should be informed of this when letters are sent to parents. In order to safeguard children at our events, we will only allow entry to parents if they have been DBS checked and vetted through safer recruitment procedures and authorised to attend by your school. The school will maintain responsible for them at all times. At public sites such as parks we will section off an area for the public where parents that are not with the school party may spectate from.
For more information regarding MSSP’s safeguarding, please click here
If you have any concerns about a child at our event please make sure you say something. The MSSP safeguarding team contact details will be on display at all events or for more information on who to speak to please click here
Please see attached Risk Assessment in the ‘Resources’ sections for event specific planning and considerations.
REFSPECT
MSSP values the contributions by all those involved in making our events a FUN, safe and enjoyable environment for children to take part in sport. To ensure our events continue to be successful we promote our REFSPECT campaign. We expect everyone attending our events to maintain respect for the rules, officials, opponents, teammates and themselves. Only designated staff and volunteers will be allowed on the side-lines. All spectators are to remain behind the barriers, providing positive support and encouraging a fun and fair event.
For more information about REFSPECT and codes of conduct for attendance at our events, please click here
If any staff, adults or children are deemed to be in breach of our REFSPECT codes of conduct they will be asked to leave the event and the Head Teacher of the relevant school will be informed immediately.
Photo Consent
Photographs will be taken at this event by staff members from MSSP and may be used for promotional material. If you have any children that do not have permission to be photographed, please inform a member of staff before the start of the event.
Please ensure your school only take photographs of their own students and do not share any photos of other children on social media without consent from that school.
Social Media
For information and updates from our events, please follow and use the platforms below.
Email: info@mertonssp.org.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mertonssp
First Aid
MSSP will have a basic first aid kit and qualified person at all events but will not be available to tend to less urgent first aid, as they will be delivering the event. As part of the school’s risk assessment a qualified first aider should be with the school team at all times (including travel) to tend to their children during the event.
Comments, Compliments and Complaints
MSSP aims to deliver a first-class service to all of its stakeholders. We see all feedback, whether good or bad, as a valuable way for us to learn and improve. Therefore, we welcome all comments, compliments and complaints. For further details, please click here